Windsor Star publisher and editor in chief Marty Beneteau has been awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal by Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan to honour the newsman’s commitment to the community and his contribution to j0urnalism in Windsor and Essex County.

In presenting the medal at a ceremony in The Star’s newsroom Monday, the deputy premier and Windsor-Tecumseh MPP lauded Beneteau’s efforts in establishing a new, state-of-the art, news operations building , now under construction in the former Palace Theatre on Ouellette Avenue, to ensure “one of Canada’s leading newspapers” maintains its presence in the city’s downtown core.

“I am proud to have been given this opportunity to recognize Marty Beneteau for his outstanding commitment to Windsor-Tecumseh,” said Duncan. “This award reflects the positive contribution he and The Windsor Star staff make to our community on a daily basis.”

Following a t0ur of the new Star address, now about 65 per cent complete, Duncan added “the site is amazing” and “reflects the confidence” that Beneteau continues to have in both the future of newspaper journalism and in his community. He said Beneteau’s leadership and “forward thinking” is evidenced byThe Star’s efforts to evolve from a traditional print publication to a more web-based “digital first” product.

“To see this new building come to life is part of his vision for The Star to be the hub of the community,” said Duncan, adding that Beneteau has remained true to his home town as a professional journalist for 30 years.

“To say I’m a deeply humbled is a gross understatement,” said Beneteau. “I accept this with all humility and deference to the people around me,” he added, referring to the Star employees assembled in the newsroom.

Beneteau said his belief in his own community stems from his background as a local boy who went out of town to attend journalism school at Ryerson in Toronto and who there read a column by Toronto Sun Columnist Clair Hoy maintaining that Windsor , which was experiencing one of its periodic economic downturns, was a “lost cause” that should be padlocked.

Beneteau wrote an editorial rebuttal in the college newspaper asserting “Windsor is OK,” and a few months later, in 1978, won an internship at his home town newspaper. “To this day I’ve felt I was picked because of that 400-word editorial that said Windsor is OK.”

He pledged The Star, in its more digitally friendly format, would continue to play a role that supports and pushes for positive change in the community even as it “sometimes outrages” its readers.

In an interview following the presentation Beneteau said the award should be shared by the entire staff because it “speaks to the work done by the Star employees.”

The tour of the new facility highlighted an open concept office design where all the paper’s operations, from editorial and business offices to ad services, will share 20,000 square feet of floor space. The editors’ offices will be on the northwest side and the daily “workings” of the newsroom exposed to the street on the north side through plate glass windows.

The front of the building will also feature a 5,000 square foot cafe and community gathering place, with space set aside for news conferences and announcements. The idea is to encourage interaction with the community and public participation in the information-gathering process.

“When I’m feeling down about the industry I do a tour of the new building and it lifts my spirits,” said Beneteau. “This should be a catalyst for downtown development.”

Doug Shillington, director of production for The Star, said there were 46 different designs for the floor plan before a decision was made to ensure that the final product would meet all the newspaper’s requirements.

“We’ve grown out of our present building,” said Shillington. “This one will be absolutely the perfect size for us.”

Greg Geml, project manager for Mady Development Corporation, which owns the building and is leasing it to The Star, said the $3.5 million job is on schedule and on budget, with 90 per cent of the building now closed in and a move in date set for Nov. 1. The staff and equipment will be moved from the historic building on Pitt Street, purchased for renovation by the University of Windsor, over the following weekends.

Beneteau’s family, including his wife, mother and sister, were on hand for the presentation.

“I’m proud of all my kids and Marty has done very well,” said Dolores Beneteau, his mother. “He always wanted to be involved and contribute to his community. He has put himself into this since school. It just moves me to tears, I can’t help it.”

Wife Nancy acknowledged her husband’s words of thanks for her support through the years stating: “He has always been my support as well. I’m very proud of him.”

There are to be 60,000 Queen’s Jubilee medals awarded throughout Canada. The medal commemorates Queen Elizabeth’s 60-year reign and is meant to honour her lifetime dedication to service. The award to private citizens is meant to honour each recipient’s contributions to their community.

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